Brussels: Speakers of a panel discussion in Brussels the EU headquarters have urged World Community to play its role in order to stop severe human rights violations in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK).

The debate titled, “The Victims of A Forgotten Conflict” was organized Kashmir Council EU and International Community for Human Development (ICHD) on the eve of International Human Rights Day at European Press Club in the capital of Belgium.

Ms Anthea McIntyre, co-chair of the Friends of Kashmir Group in the European Parliament, and her fellow MEP, Ms. Julie Ward, Noted Photo Journalist of Belgium Cédric Gerbehaye, Chairman Kashmir Council EU Mr Ali Raza Syed and Former Ambassador of EU Anthoney Crasner were among the speakers of the event.

“The photo journalist Cédric Gerbehaye displayed his photos on slides from Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). He explained each photograph which he took during his recent visit to IHK. He described that he felt miseries of the people of Kashmir as he has been impressed by the their hardships. The photographer said, he is not a politician and his comments are not a political statement while it is important to tell about existence of a severe psychological trauma among the people of Kashmir. There is no treatment for such pain. It is necessary to help to bring them out of the trauma. A documentary film on Kashmir was also shown to the participants of the event”

Ms Anthea McIntyre, co-chair of the Friends of Kashmir Group in the European Parliament said, she is trying to bring a delegation to Kashmir next year. It would help to make more awareness on facts about Kashmir. She said, there is a need of more information on Kashmir issue in Europe

MEP, Ms. Julie Ward said, Kashmir and Palestine issues have similarity but Palestine issue is being given more importance in the world. We have to know the reasons of the Kashmir issue which could help in finding a suitable solution of the problem.

Both of the MEPs appreciated the efforts of Kashmir Council EU on Kashmir issue in Europe and said, there is a need of more work on Kashmir after BREXIT. It is necessary to make a solid foundation of efforts on Kashmir issue in Europe.

The speakers said, Kashmir issue is at agenda of United Nations (UN) for seven decades and since 1989, more than 70,000 people have died, more than 8,000 people have been simply disappeared, more than 6,000 mass graves have been filled in the Kashmir valley.

There have been countless cases of torture and sexual violence and forced disappearances and moreover, since last year, the use of pellet guns resulted in at least 300 hospitalizations in Srinagar, including 16 cases in which the patient lost their sight completely.

The speakers further said that unfortunately violence and human rights violations in Indian held Kashmir (IHK) are rapidly continued. Murder, rape, disappearances, torture, the use of guns by the Indian authorities and lack of freedom of speech and restriction on peaceful protest is a matter of every day in the occupied territory, they pointed out.

On the occasion, Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU)’s Chairman Mr Ali Raza Syed said, so far, Kashmiris in IHK live in miserable condition under Indian occupation as thousands of Kashmiris lost their life by the brutal occupation forces.

KC-EU’s Chairman said, we have pledged to continue our struggle till achievement of inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir. He also emphasized on raising of the human rights of Kashmiris as maximum level in Europe and other parts of the world. Mr Ali Raza Syed urged the International Community to take immediate and serious notice of worsen situation of human rights in the occupied land.

He said, the extrajudicial killing of Kashmiris specially military forces’ attacks on peaceful protesters is a routine matter, no one is safe and Indian authorities are frequently committing war crimes.

He termed it as a brutal act and a violation of fundamental human rights of people as saying, “But it cannot deter the people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand for right to self-determination”.

Mr Ali Raza Syed further said, “We will continued to make the International Community specially Europeans aware of the atrocities in occupied Kashmir and as well facts about severe situation related to human rights in IHK. “We want to uncover real and ruthless face of India”, Chairman of Kashmir Council-EU Ali Raza Syed declared. He also pledged solidarity with the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of international day of Human Rights.